'Take your time,' says boss Paul Warne as Angus MacDonald begins his Rotherham United comeback

The defender, who been out since the summer with an unspecified condition, is now working with Rotherham United’s first-team squad again.

Millers boss Paul Warne said it could be the New Year before the 29-year-old is ready to play again but described the fact that he is even lacing up his boots again at the club’s Roundwood complex as “really positive news”.

“He has been training for the last week or so,” the manager said. “He was on the grass on Monday for the first time in months.

“He has now got the gradual process of getting back up to speed. It might take six to eight weeks, it might take 12 weeks. We are looking after him as well as we can.

“The physios are brilliant with him and the lads are really pleased for him. He joins in the warm-ups and he is a really popular member of the group.

“Whether we see him this side of Christmas I don’t know, but it is really positive news.”

Rotherham have yet to make any comment on why MacDonald, who impressed in the Championship last season in his first year at AESSEAL New York Stadium, has been sidelined for such a length of time.

The player did indoor cardio sessions with the Millers’ medical team for a spell before taking the next step and being allowed outside.

“It’s a great boost for Angus,” Warne said. “I think the world of him. He’s a great lad and arguably one of the best centre-halves we have.

“But it is a long road that he is on and we won’t take any shortcuts with it.”

The fifth-placed Millers, now unbeaten in eight matches after Tuesday’s 0-0 home draw with promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers, continue their League One campaign at MK Dons on Saturday.

Warne could have a selection dilemma in goal if keeper Viktor Johansson is fit again after a back spasm because league debutant Josh Vickers came in for the Swede against the Chairboys and staked his claim for a second start with a commanding display.

“Viktor was fine with his goalkeeping, it was his kicking — he couldn’t reach the halfway line,” Warne said. “I didn’t want to do the old trick of putting a centre-half on goal-kicks, so it was an easy choice to leave him out.

“It’s the same with all the players: if you are not 100 per cent you don’t play. Viktor wasn’t 100 per cent.

“Josh stepped up and was excellent.”